Around 70 exclusive guests participated in the tournament and competed for several prizes. Other athletes and well-known figures in the sport were also present, such as Bruno Soares, a professional tennis player and Australian Open champion in both men's and mixed doubles. In addition to them, businessman André Akkari, a professional poker player and CEO of FURIA Esports, was also present.
Mariana Spinelli, ESPN presenter, and journalist Bruno Laurence, both known for their passion for the sport, were present, reinforcing poker's ties with the sports world and the importance of celebration.
The event was supported by major poker institutions, such as BSOP, PokerStars, Suprema Poker and H2 Club. It was a day marked by competition, entertainment and, above all, an opportunity to reinforce the importance of the sport as a sport of strategy and skill.
Leonardo Cavarge, CEO of WPF, creator and organizer of the event, highlighted the importance of the ceremony: “We were very happy to bring together so many personalities from different areas to celebrate poker."
"This event reflected the essence of the WPF, which seeks to expand the reach of the sport, bringing it closer to great athletes, celebrities and enthusiasts.”
On the same day, executives from IMSA (International Mind Sports Association) also attended the event. The international entity held a meeting with the aim of giving a final opinion on the recognition of poker as a mind sport, being classified alongside chess and eSports.
In December 2022, WPF was unanimously accepted as a member of IMSA, which paved the way for this advancement and development of the sport.
Among the key figures in achieving definitive recognition were Ueltom Lima, Alberoni “Bill” Castro, Devanir Campos, Lara Bruno, Igor “Federal” Trafane (President of WPF), Leonardo Cavarge (CEO of WPF) and Roberto Lifschitz (Marketing Director of WPF).
Source: GMB
